The two men were waiting for us--Haddon, by contrast with Carton,
a weak-faced, nervous man, with bulgy eyes.
"Mr. Haddon," introduced Carton, "let me present a couple of
reporters from the Star--off duty, so that we can talk freely
before them, I can assure you. Good fellows, too, Haddon."
The hotel and cabaret keeper smiled a sickly smile and greeted us
with a covert, questioning glance.
"This attack on Mr. Carton has unnerved me," he shivered. "If any
one dares to do that to him, what will they do to me?"
"Don't get cold feet, Haddon," urged Carton. "You'll be all right.
I'll swing it for you."
Haddon made no reply. At length he remarked: "You'll excuse me for
a moment. I must telephone to my hotel."
He entered a booth in the shadow of the back of the cafe, where
there was a slot-machine pay-station. "I think Haddon has his
suspicions," remarked Carton, "although he is too prudent to say
anything yet."
A moment later he returned. Something seemed to have happened. He
looked less nervous.
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